At BMS we welcome adult students of all ages, levels and abilities for individual and group music instruction on most instruments and voice. Take a look at our current offerings below!
Please note: you may self-register for group classes and community ensembles. For questions about registration, or to inquire about the Adult Band series, please reach out to registrar@brooklynmusicschool.org.
For financial aid inquiries, please contact financialaid@brooklynmusicschool.org
adult Group classes + Community ensembles:
Spring 2024
Adult music production & songwriting
Saturdays 11:30-12:30pm, 2/8/2025 - 6/21/2025
Learn music production and work on your own projects! In this course we will learn the basics of music production and audio recording. Students will acquire production skills that can be used in any software as well as learn the fundamentals of synthesizers and other analog hardware. The class will be centered around weekly projects with creative prompts and a final project of our own compositions. Good for beginners and those with some experience that want to take it a step further.
Advanced ADULT Music Production & Songwriting
Sundays 2:30 - 3:30pm, 2/2/2025 - 6/22/2025
This course builds on the level 1 music production/songwriting course. Our goal for this course is to make a personal “EP” of three to four songs each. We will learn advanced production techniques, such as designing reverbs, synthesis, and resampling, as well as tools and tricks for writing our own music. We will have 5 in-studio days to develop skills as producers and songwriters. Prerequisite is Level 1 music production/songwriting or instructor approval.
Adult guitar lab
Wednesdays 6:30- 7:30pm, 2/5/2025 - 6/18/2025
This Guitar Workshop is for aspiring guitarists as well as guitarists with some experience! Learn/review the basics and improve your melodic and chord skills!
GROUP PIANO I
Saturdays 1:00- 2:00pm, 2/8/2025 - 6/21/2025
This group piano class is for adult students who are complete beginners. This class will provide a working understanding of the piano, and help kickstart your piano journey! We will cover reading music, major scales, basic chord shapes, and enough music theory to breakdown straightforward pop songs. There will be weekly homework assignments as we develop our piano skills. There will be two performances at BMS (not required, but encouraged!)
GROUP PIANO II
Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:30pm, 2/5/2025 - 6/18/2025
Prerequisite: Adult Group Piano I
This is the second level of our adult group piano classes. This course directly builds on level 1 and takes you from beginner to intermediate level playing. The curriculum is divided into 3 sections: Minor keys and Minor Harmony, Jazz and Improvisation, and Intro to Composition. We will work through a canon of piano classics such as “Für Elise” and “Canon in D.” Additionally, this course enables pianists to play the piano without having follow a specific composition, instead building on our theory knowledge to improvise and compose. There are monthly performance opportunities on the first Monday of every month, as well as in BMS Recitals and shows!
Adult Group Piano III
Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:00pm, 2/4/2025 - 6/17/2025
This course is designed to find ways for intermediate piano students to keep growing. The main focus of this course is to work towards a final composition project of a complete written piece for piano. To accomplish that goal we will work through three sections. The first section will develop left-hand accompaniment in a classical style and expand upon our understandings of harmony (Diatonic +). The second section will be an intermediate jazz study that focuses on walking bass, playing two-hand accompaniment in a jazz style, and improvising. The third section will prioritize composition, exploring a variety of (re)harmonization strategies and composition challenges with the final project as our main goal. At the end of the course each student will have written a full piece for piano. There are monthly performance opportunities and piano levels 1&2 are required (or instructor approval).
ADULT piano LAB
Saturdays 3:30-4:30pm, 2/8/2025 - 6/21/2025
Prerequisite: Adult Group Piano I + II
The Adult Piano Lab is a group class for intermediate and advancing adult piano students. This course will delve deeper into music theory in order to foster improvisation and composition skills. By the end of this course students will have the knowledge and facility to sit down and improvise a piece in a variety of different styles (pop, jazz, and classical). Additionally, students will work through some larger classical pieces together. There are monthly performance opportunities on the first Monday of every month, as well as in BMS Recitals and shows!
ADULT INTRO TO MUSIC THEORY
Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:30pm, 2/5/2025 - 6/28/2025
This class is geared toward adult musicians who are interested in taking a deeper look into the mechanics of music. The course presents basic music theory using several modules such as ear training, harmony (learning about chords), analyzing song structure (learning about form), and Songwriting as a vehicle. Rather than a solely written/academic approach to understanding theory, this class will allow adults to learn music theory while making connections to other musical concepts.
ADult intermediate music theory
Tuesdays 6:30 - 7:30pm, 2/4/2025 - 6/17/2025
This class is geared toward adult musicians who are interested in diving deeper into music theory including Western rhythm and pitch notation, scale and mode building, and more advanced harmony through the study of intervals and chord qualities. The course includes several modules such as rhythmic notation, ear training, harmony/melody, and song structure/form. Rather than a solely written/academic approach to understanding theory, this class prioritizes applying musical concepts through voice or instrument.
Adult Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Tuesdays 6:30 - 7:30pm, 2/4/2025 - 6/17/2025
In this a Vocal Jazz Ensemble, singers of all experience and levels are welcome! Join us for weekly rehearsals that will cover concepts including healthy vocal technique, ear training, style, and the importance of rhythm, intonation, tone, blend, and balance within an a Vocal Jazz ensemble! This class will use jazz, popular, and contemporary repertoire to explore these topics, and will culminate in a final performance!
Monday Night Adult Ensemble
Mondays 6:30 - 8:00pm, 2/3/2025 - 6/23/2025
If your are interested in joining an adult ensemble that explores a variety of styles and genres, please fill out this form to let us know more about your instrument, musical interests, and experience level!
ORCHESTRA
Tuesdays 6:30-8:00pm, 9/10/2024-6/24/2025
In this ensemble for experienced players, we will explore classical and contemporary repertoire for orchestra and chamber ensemble.
Registered students, please fill out this form to let us know more about your instrument, musical interests, and experience level!
world percussion ensemble
Mondays 6:30-8:00 9/9/2024-6/23/2024
Open to students of any experience level! Students will learn and develop rhythmic skills in different time signatures, tempos, and feels in a welcoming and supportive environment. Using hand drums such as the djembe and the congas, students will practice a variety of exercises to increase power and dexterity. After gaining solid technique on the drums, students will learn rhythms from the Congo, West Africa, Cuba, Haiti, and Trinidad - all of which will improve rhythmic vocabulary and musicality!
ADult band series
We’ll match you with fellow adults based on your skill level and musical interests!
BMS Jazz, Rock, Funk, and Motown Ensembles meet for 90-minute weekly rehearsals over the course of a semester or academic year. Each ensemble will create a set list of their own and have opportunities to participate in events such as the NYC Marathon, Atlantic Antic, and more.
Please contact the registrar to inquire about openings - registrar@brooklynmusicschool.org
Not seeing what you’re looking for? Let us know!
Click below to fill out our adult programming inquiry form.